Pot type engine oil heater



I July 7, 1953 Filed NOV. 3, 1951 P. ALTMAN EI'AL POT TYPE ENGINE OIL HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS I PETER ALTMAN LAURENCE D.BAKKE ATT NEYS July 7, 1953 Y P. ALTMAN ETAL POT TYPE ENGINE OIL HEATER Filed Nov. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 {8 INVENTORS PETER ALTMAN LAURENCE D. BAKKE ATTO EYS Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED NT orrlc ror TYPE ENGINE on. HEATER Plymouth, Mich,

tion of Virginia Application November 3, 1951,, Serial No. 254,732

This invention relates to engines and more particularly to lubricant heating means therefor, comprising a pot type heat-er for directly heating the crankcase to bring up the temperature of the engine lubricating oil stored in the crankcase to facilitate engine starting and continued efficient operation.

Many applications require the operation of internal combustion engines under extremely cold climatic conditions, and when sub-zero temperature conditions exist, all manner of difiiculties are encountered in starting internal combustion engines. It is also very difficult to keep these engines operating eiiiciently under these conditions. Much of the difficulties encountered are in connection with lubrication, the lubricating oil being very thick and hard under sub-zero conditions, making it difiicult to turn over the engine on starting and more serious yet is the fact that it is impossible to circulate this thick and hard lubricating oil to the engine parts to be lubricated. Furthermore, the oil retained in the various shaft bearings and on the cylinder walls is hard and stiff and therefore do not properly lubricate.

It is the object of this present invention to overcome these dinicultics by providing a pot type heater for the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, which heater can be utilized to warm the engine by direct application of heat to the engine crankcase whereby to facilitate cold engine starting and continued efficient engine operation.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompany ing drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an internal combustion engine equipped with a pot type heater on the engine crankcase.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the engine crankcase.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the crankcase.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view thereof, and

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view through the pot type heater structure attached to the engine crankcase, and taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with a single cylinder engine A although it will be obvious that the principles of the invention may be incorporated in engines other than the one illustrated. It is probably more difiicult to start a single cylin- 3 Claims. (Cl. 184104) der engine under adverse temperature cond tions, and it is still more difiicult to maintain proper and eincient operation under such adverse conditions, because all critical areas of the engine are directly exposed to the elements than in a multi-cylinder engine.

The engine herein illustrated comprises an en gine block I 0, a cylinder I I, such standard accessories as are required and an exhaust gas conduit I2, preferably a flexible hose structure connected with the cylinder exhaust and with the crankcase structure 15. Lubricating oil is preferably stored in the crankcase interior It, and provides a source of lubricating oil supply for the various engine parts to be lubricated. The lubricating oil is picked by any suitable standard means from the crankcase and circulated through the engine. The crankcase is cast to provide a lateral boss I1 extending for substantially the full length of said crankcase and is provided with a bore or passage I8 through which the engine exhaust gases are conducted so as to warm the crankcase and keep it warm during engine operation.

Secured at one end of the crankcase 15 in heat conductive relation therewith and preferably cast integrally therewith, is an open top box structure 20, which is commonly referred to as a pot type heater. A lid or cover 2! is hinged to the crankcase and closes the open top of said box structure, a suitable latch 22 being used to lock said lid or cover in closed position. Absorbent wicking 23 is contained within the chamber 24 of this box structure, and same is adapted to be soaked with a combustible fuel and ignited to directly heat the crankcase and the lubricating oil. In fact, heat from this pot type heater will warm up the whole engine. This pot type heater is employed to heat up the engine before starting, and. is used primarily to facilitate starting of the engine under very adverse cold climatic conditions, usually sub-zero temperature, and it thus serves to warm up the lubricating oil in the crankcase and in other parts of the engine before starting. Openings or suitable louvers are provided in the walls of the box structure to provide oxygen to maintain ignition within the chamber 24. Said louvers are generally located or disposed somewhat above the top of the absorbent wicking 23.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine having a crankcase containing engine lubricating oil, a pot type heater for said crankcase comprising a box like extension carried by the crankcase and having a chamber, a crankcase wall separating the interior of the crankcase from said chamber, and absorbent wicking in said chamber and adapted to be saturated with liquid fuel and ignited to directly heat the crankcase and the lubricating oil contained therein.

2. in an internal combustion engine having a crankcase containing engine lubricating oil,. a

pot type heater for said crankcase comprising a box like extension carried by the crankcase and having a chamber, a crankcase wall separating the interior of the crankcase from said chamber, I

and absorbent wicking in said chamber and 7 adapted. to be saturated with liquid fuel and 4 type heater for said crankcase comprising a box like extension carried by the crankcase and having a chamber, a crankcase wall separating the interior of the crankcase from said chamber, and absorbent wicking in said chamber and adapted to be saturated with liquid fuel and ignited to directly heat the crankcase and the lubricating oil contained therein, a cover for said chamber hinged to said crankcase, latching means to lock said cover closed, and louvers in one or more side walls of said chamber, said louvers being disposed above the absorbent wicking contained in said chamber whereby to allow for the admission of oxygen into said chamber to support combustion 'of the liquid fuel carried by said wicking.

PETER ALTMAN; LAURENCE D. BAKKE References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,460,668 Good July 3, 1923 1,511,250 Wright 7 Oct. 14, 1924 

